The '''Holy Synod of Milan''' originated as a [[diocese]] for Western Europe of an [[Old Calendarist]] Greek Orthodox Church (see also ''[[Florinites]]''). The full name of this jurisdiction is the '''Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Milan, Western Europe and the Americas'''.

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The '''Holy Synod of Milan''' originated as a [[diocese]] for Western Europe of an [[Old Calendarist]] Greek Orthodox Church (see also ''[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Calendarist#The_Florinite.2FMatthewite_schism Florinites]''). The full name of this jurisdiction is the '''Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Milan, Western Europe'''.

==History==

==History==

The diocese was granted a [[tomos]] of [[autonomy]] in 1984 from Archbishop Auxentios in order to pursue missionary work among the non-Orthodox people of the West. The title of the Synod at this time was the ''Metropolia of Western Europe''. After the transference of its first Chief Hierarch, Metropolitan Gabriel of Portugal, to the [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] [[Church of Poland]], Bishop Evloghios of Milan was chosen as second Chief Hierarch and elevated to the rank of [[metropolitan]].

The diocese was granted a [[tomos]] of [[autonomy]] in 1984 from Archbishop Auxentios in order to pursue missionary work among the non-Orthodox people of the West. The title of the Synod at this time was the ''Metropolia of Western Europe''. After the transference of its first Chief Hierarch, Metropolitan Gabriel of Portugal, to the [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] [[Church of Poland]], Bishop Evloghios of Milan was chosen as second Chief Hierarch and elevated to the rank of [[metropolitan]].

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Today Metropolitan Evloghios remains at the helm of the Holy Synod of bishops of the Church of Milan, which comprises eight [[diocese]]s, four in Europe and four in America, as well as missionary deaneries in England, Spain and South Africa. The Milan Synod uses the [[Julian calendar]] exclusively, and "firmly resists the [[heresy|heresies]] of false [[ecumenism]] and trans-religious syncretism."[http://www.odox.net/Synod.htm]

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Today Metropolitan Evloghios remains at the helm of the Holy Synod of bishops of the Church of Milan, which comprises eight [[diocese]]s, five in Europe, as well as missionary deaneries in England, France and South Africa.

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Since 1997 the Milan Synod includes a number of [[Western Rite]] communities, mainly in the United States, who were absorbed from an ''episcopoi vagante'' organization. For example, St. Hilarion's Monastery in Austin, Texas, originated in the [http://www.liberalcatholic.org/default.asp Liberal Catholic Church], a theosophist "church." Its bishop later [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/monasteryicons.aspx ordained the head of the Gnostic Orthodox Church as a bishop], although the ordinand stated he did not need to receive the sacrament, as he had been a bishop in a past life. The Milan Synod reportedly did not see fit to reordain this lot upon acceptance. The principal rite of the Synod of Milan is the Byzantine Rite of the Orthodox Church, celebrated most commonly in the Slavic style but in some parishes in the Greek style.

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===Hierarchy===

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*Metropolitan EVLOGHIOS of Milan, First Hierarch

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*Archbishop ONUPHRIUS of Bergamo (Titular; the Archbishop is the Representative to Eastern Europe for the Synod)

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*Archbishop ABBONDIO of Como (Resigned episcopal rank in 2012, now an Archimandrite)

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Retired or Withdrew:

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*Bishop PABLO of Italica, bishop for Spain and Portugal (An Archimandrite of ROCOR since November, 2011)

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*Bishop Ildefonso of Valencia

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*Bishop BORIS of Germany

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The Milan Synod uses the [[Julian calendar]] exclusively, and "firmly resists the [[heresy|heresies]] of false [[ecumenism]] and trans-religious syncretism."[http://www.odox.net/Synod.htm]

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==America==

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Since 1997 the Milan Synod included a number of [[Western Rite]] communities, mainly in the United States, who worship according to pre-schismatic (historically Orthodox) liturgical traditions with the support of the Metropolitan and of the [[Holy Synod]] of Bishops. The principal rite of the Synod of Milan is the [[Byzantine Rite]] of the Orthodox Church, celebrated most commonly in the Slavic style but in some parishes in the Greek style.

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On February 14/27, 2011, the Synod announced that it had granted full autonomy to its American Dioceses, elevating Archbishop JOHN of New York to the rank of Metropolitan and erecting the [[Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles]].

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Communion between the [[Autonomous Metropolia of the Americas and the British Isles]] and the Milan Synod ceased effectively April 4, 2011. The Milan Synod was required by Patriarch Kyril to cease communion with any previous sister churches. The American Metropolia responded by confirming the cessation.

==Ecclesiastical status==

==Ecclesiastical status==

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As with many of the [[Old Calendarist]] jurisdictions, the Milan Synod is not currently in communion with the mainstream Orthodox churches.

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As with all of the [[Old Calendarist]] jurisdictions, the Milan Synod is not currently in communion with the mainstream Orthodox churches. It is currently in dialogues with the Moscow Patriarchate, having ceased communion in April 2011 with its sister synods in America, Greece, and Bulgaria. During 2011 the [[Orthodox Church in Italy]] joined the Milan Synod, two years after the death of its founder, Metropolitan [[Antonio (de Rosso) of Ravenna]].

* [http://www.onr.com/user/milan Official Website of the Milan Synod] (English)

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* [http://www.metropoliadimilano.it Official Website of the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Milan (Holy Synod of Milan)] (Italian)

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* [http://xoomer.virgilio.it/elia1960/ Official Website of the Milan Synod] (Italian)

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* [http://www.chiesaortodossa.it Official Website of the Orthodox Church in Italy - Chiesa Ortodossa in Italia] (Italian)

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* [http://www.orthodoxwest.net Official Website of the Archdiocese of New York and Eastern America, Milan Synod]

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* [http://ihtis.wordpress.com News from the Milan Synod maintained by Bp Abbondio of Como] (Italian and Romanian)

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[[Category:Jurisdictions]]

[[Category:Jurisdictions]]

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[[Category:Old Calendarist Jurisdictions]]

Revision as of 15:01, May 2, 2012

The Holy Synod of Milan originated as a diocese for Western Europe of an Old Calendarist Greek Orthodox Church (see also Florinites). The full name of this jurisdiction is the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Milan, Western Europe.

Contents

History

The diocese was granted a tomos of autonomy in 1984 from Archbishop Auxentios in order to pursue missionary work among the non-Orthodox people of the West. The title of the Synod at this time was the Metropolia of Western Europe. After the transference of its first Chief Hierarch, Metropolitan Gabriel of Portugal, to the autocephalousChurch of Poland, Bishop Evloghios of Milan was chosen as second Chief Hierarch and elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

Today Metropolitan Evloghios remains at the helm of the Holy Synod of bishops of the Church of Milan, which comprises eight dioceses, five in Europe, as well as missionary deaneries in England, France and South Africa.

Hierarchy

Metropolitan EVLOGHIOS of Milan, First Hierarch

Archbishop ONUPHRIUS of Bergamo (Titular; the Archbishop is the Representative to Eastern Europe for the Synod)

Archbishop ABBONDIO of Como (Resigned episcopal rank in 2012, now an Archimandrite)

Retired or Withdrew:

Bishop PABLO of Italica, bishop for Spain and Portugal (An Archimandrite of ROCOR since November, 2011)

America

Since 1997 the Milan Synod included a number of Western Rite communities, mainly in the United States, who worship according to pre-schismatic (historically Orthodox) liturgical traditions with the support of the Metropolitan and of the Holy Synod of Bishops. The principal rite of the Synod of Milan is the Byzantine Rite of the Orthodox Church, celebrated most commonly in the Slavic style but in some parishes in the Greek style.

Communion between the Autonomous Metropolia of the Americas and the British Isles and the Milan Synod ceased effectively April 4, 2011. The Milan Synod was required by Patriarch Kyril to cease communion with any previous sister churches. The American Metropolia responded by confirming the cessation.

Ecclesiastical status

As with all of the Old Calendarist jurisdictions, the Milan Synod is not currently in communion with the mainstream Orthodox churches. It is currently in dialogues with the Moscow Patriarchate, having ceased communion in April 2011 with its sister synods in America, Greece, and Bulgaria. During 2011 the Orthodox Church in Italy joined the Milan Synod, two years after the death of its founder, Metropolitan Antonio (de Rosso) of Ravenna.